A Big Talk at Roland Garros
The French Open in 2025 is getting a lot of attention, and it’s not just about the tennis. This year, the tournament is sticking with people as line judges instead of using electronic systems to call shots, unlike most other big tennis events. Stars like Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff have shared their opinions, and fans are chatting about it online. The choice to keep things old-school at Roland Garros, which runs until June 8, has everyone split on whether it’s a good idea or not.
Why No Tech at the French Open?
Most big tournaments, like Wimbledon, started using electronic line-calling this year. But the French Open is keeping human line judges. The people running the tournament, led by Gilles Moretton, say they trust their judges and love the tradition of checking ball marks on the clay courts. When a player disagrees with a call, they point to a mark, and the umpire checks it out. It’s kind of fun to watch, like a mini detective show! One fan on X said, “I love seeing umpires climb down to look at the clay!” But not everyone thinks it’s great.
Djokovic Wants Machines
Novak Djokovic, who’s won 24 Grand Slams, doesn’t like that the French Open is skipping tech. Before his first match against Mackenzie McDonald on May 27, 2025, he told reporters that electronic systems are better. “They’re more accurate and faster, and you don’t need as many people on the court,” he said. He gets why some like the old way, saying, “You don’t want tech for everything, right?” But he thinks machines make calls fairer. He even brought up a tough moment from the 2020 US Open when he got in trouble for accidentally hitting a line judge, showing how human calls can cause problems.
Gauff Likes Tech, Too
Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old who won the 2023 US Open, agrees with Djokovic. After beating Olivia Gadecki in her first match on May 27, 2025, she said, “I’m young, so I think we should use technology if we have it.” She’s not super pushy about it and respects the tournament’s choice, but she believes human mistakes can mess up a game. Gauff, who’s ranked No. 2 at Roland Garros, had a funny moment when she forgot her rackets before her match but still played awesome. Fans on X liked her take, with one saying, “Coco’s right—tech makes things fair!”
Some Players Like the Old Way
Not everyone wants machines. Stefanos Tsitsipas, who lost to Djokovic in the 2021 French Open final, thinks human judges are fine. He said, “Clay courts are cool because you can check the ball marks. I’d rather have people than robots.” He knows tech is coming, especially since the ATP tour went all-electronic in 2025, but he enjoys the drama when players argue with umpires. It’s a big part of the French Open’s charm. Fans on X agree, with one posting, “Players pointing at clay marks is like a show!” Some even take pictures of the marks, like Alexander Zverev did at another tournament.
Why Clay Makes It Tricky
Clay courts are different because the ball leaves a mark you can check. But sometimes those marks aren’t clear, and even electronic systems can get it wrong on clay. That’s happened at other clay events, so the French Open is slow to change. Gilles Moretton said they’ll only use tech if all the players really want it, but most aren’t making a big fuss. Since the French Open is the only Grand Slam still using line judges, it feels like a holdout in a tech-heavy sport.
Fans and Players Don’t Agree
This topic has fans talking a lot online. Some love the tradition, with one X user saying, “Keep the humans—it’s what makes Roland Garros special!” Others agree with Djokovic and Gauff, wanting tech for fair calls. One fan wrote, “Why risk bad calls when we have machines?” Both Djokovic and Gauff won their first matches easily, with Djokovic beating McDonald and Gauff topping Gadecki. But the line-calling debate is stealing some attention, showing how tennis is changing. As the French Open keeps going, this argument is sure to stick around.
